Even Sky news has some reasonable reporting, just not once the vampires come out.
Seriously though, the thing that will hold Putin back the most is your word that I highlighted above, in that he doesn't command a committed force. Sure, there will be a percentage amongst them that believes in the objectives no matter, but this isn't specialised units attacking Georgia.
These forces a group of mostly young men that have had much greater access to travel the world gaining knowledge and friendships, compared to those that were marching into Afghanistan 40 plus years ago or still guarding walls dividing countries a decade later.